May 24, 2007

  • Thursday Thirteen #4

    Today's list is because of the request of several people who asked me to elaborate on "the care and feeding of husbands." 
     
    If you support women's lib, you may want to skip today's entry, as it may be hard for you to stomach!
     
     
    Thirteen Things about
    Caring For & Feeding Husbands

     

    1.  Have the house clean in the area he'll see first when he walks in the door after working all day.

    2.  While he's gone all day, find something new to talk about or tell him. Listen to CNN, a talk show with an interesting topic, read the newspaper, read an article in a magazine . . . SOMETHING to make yourself an interesting adult conversationalist. Not, "Do you know what little Sally did today?"

    3.   Do whatever it takes to find a little bit of time to listen to HIS day. Pay attention. Ask questions. Don't offer solutions to his problems unless he asks.

    4.   Tell him about a problem you are having, but have some solutions in mind and then ask what he thinks. Short of someone dying, DON'T DUMP on him.

    5.   Teach your children not to be loud or pester their dad the minute he walks in the door. "Hi Daddy!" accompanied with a big smile is a great welcome. Their stories can follow later on after he's had a chance to take off his shoes.

    6a.  ASK if he prefers to be reminded, or would rather have a list made up, of things that need to be done. NEVER automatically make a honey-do list and post it under his nose where he'll be sure to see it.

    6b.  DON'T NAG!!! If something important hasn't been done after a reasonable amount of time, ask if he would prefer you find someone cheap to do the job. Chances are, he'll want to save money and will do it himself.

    7.    Do HIS laundry FIRST!!! Do what HE has asked you to do (phone calls, pick up backyard toys so he can mow, etc.) FIRST before you do anything else on your day's "To Do" list.

    8.    Always have the table set when he comes home from work. Even if dinner is going to be late, a set table holds the promise of dinner being served "soon." 

    9.     Fix a meal he REALLY likes at least twice a week.

    10.   Tell the children to ask Dad first before taking a 3rd or 4th (or 5th!) helping. Make sure they remember to think about him getting enough to eat.

    11.   Start an "I love Dad because . . . " or a "We have the best Dad in the world because . . . " game with your children. Pick things that make him special and be sure he can hear the game being played.

    12.   Compliment him often.  Be sure the compliments are sincere and not goofy things you've made up. False compliments fall flat.

    13.   Make sure he knows that even though you are self-sufficient, you would NEVER want to live without him.

     

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